|natural = tree|
|A single tree|
|Used on these elements|
|Tools for this tag|
A single tree, sometimes lone or significant.
How to map
Place a node () at the location of the tree's trunk with the tag natural=tree.
- leaf_type=broadleaved/needleleaved - describes the type of leaves.
type=broad_leaved/conifer/palm- Caution: The usage of type=* for non-relation elements should be avoided! (use leaf_type instead)
- genus=* - scientific name of the genus (first part of the scientific name). If you add species=* this is not necessary.
- species=* - scientific name of the species (popularly known as the Latin name). Please use the namespaces for local languages (see examples).
- taxon=* scientific name describing any taxonomic level e.g. order, family, genus, species, sub-species or cultivar
- sex=male/female. Some species are dioecious, meaning that an individual has only male or only female flowers. A good known example are all willows (Salix).
- circumference=* for the circumference of the trunk (measured in a height of 1 metre above ground). If no unit is given metres are assumed.
- height=* for the height
- diameter_crown=* for the diameter of the crown of foliage of the tree
- name=* for individual trees which have a name, usually these are either individual trees with a historical or traditional name or trees with a name given in memory of special events (> memorial tree). The usual rules for name=* apply. This tag should not be used for a description of the species.
- leaf_cycle=deciduous/evergreen/semi_deciduous/semi_evergreen - describes the phenology of leaves.
Subtag denotation to indicate the significance
It can be helpful to further describe the context and significance of a tree. It can be used for some maps to enhance landmarks and to tone down or skip unremarkable trees. There are some further suggestions for this on the discussion page. denotation=* seems to be widely in use. To mark monumental trees: additional monument=yes (compare to historic=monument).
If you want to map a line of trees, have a look at natural=tree_row. (When along a road, this is sometimes called "avenue of trees", allé or allée.) This approach can also be combined with individually mapped trees for further details.
A walnut tree (common walnut):
- species=Juglans regia (this is the latin species name)
- species:en=Common Walnut
- species:de=Echte Walnuss
An oak tree (unknown species):
A spruce tree (unknown species):
A birch tree (unknown species):
A Canary Island date palm:
Renderers may use one signature for any kind of tree. If foliage dependent signatures (as above) shall be applied, the easiest solution is to evaluate the leaf_type=*, leaf_cycle=* tags. If these are unset, you can derive them from the genus. The genus is the value of the genus=* tag. It is also the first portion (substring before the first whitespace) of the value of the species=* tag.
Initially this tag was supposed to be used only for lone or significant trees. As nothing in tag name itself indicated that it was not supposed to be used for ordinary trees it was used to mark trees that were neither lone nor significant - ignoring the definition on wiki. Currently it is commonly used to mark normal trees and other tags were introduced to mark that tree is significant.
- natural=tree_row - for tree rows
- Proposed features/Tree - accepted proposal for this tag
- landuse=forest, natural=wood - managed/unmanaged woodland
- habitat=* (proposed)
- plant_community=* (proposed)
- Tree table - ideas for mapping 3D trees
- Environmental OSM - OpenStreetMap environmental projects and tags
- Invasive Non-Native Species - proposal for recording invasive species